Doug Elgin
Doug Elgin
emergence media programs starting tip tongue viewed
Nationally, I think you're starting to see an emergence of programs that may not be at the tip of the tongue of the media but are starting to be viewed very differently.
accomplish best bunch coaches coming eight keeping kids mature midwest playing program programs schools sets state taking teams television together valley
We're keeping coaches in place. Dana Altman sets the example. He understands you can accomplish just as much at Creighton as you can at Big State U. His program has been in postseason play for eight consecutive seasons. And kids in the Midwest see Valley schools playing in sold-out arenas, taking on the best teams in the nation, and getting more television exposure. It's coming together for us. We're having a bunch of programs mature at the same time.
believe bids deserve game heart ncaa outcome position puts question six teams
The outcome of the championship game puts us in a position where I believe in my heart that we deserve and will get five. If there are a lot of at-large bids gobbled up by upsets, potentially we could get fewer, but I don't think there's any question that we have six teams right now that I think are NCAA Tournament-caliber.
games
I think there were two games in our tournament... that were elimination games.
among conference feeling reckoned selection talking truly
I think there's still a feeling that we're not for real among some of the talking heads. But I think we'll truly be a conference to be reckoned with on Selection Sunday.
good teams upgrade
We had to upgrade our RPI. To do that you have go on the road, you have to play good teams and you have to win.
adding aggressive difficult games national possibly trying worthy
We've had discussions with other conferences about adding games that would be worthy of national exposure. It's difficult to do. We're trying to be as aggressive as we possibly can.
advanced against deep illinois marquee played since southern sweet teams wins
We haven't had a lot of marquee wins since Southern Illinois went to the Sweet 16 in 2002. But we have played well against teams that advanced deep into the tournament.
five greater pressure
The pressure is five times greater than it's ever been, and if we go 1-4 or something, everyone will think we've failed.
demand level ourselves raise
It's really helped, I think, to raise the level of officiating. We now look at ourselves differently than we did 15 years ago. We demand more of ourselves.
media national needs obvious
It's pretty obvious the national media needs to take a better look at what we have to offer.
It's very important we back up this season.
attacks below calling chair
The attacks were inappropriate, they were skewering the chair and calling out the committee. It was way, way off the charts, below the belt. It was unnecessary.
brand league mind name question valley
Take away the brand name (Missouri Valley Conference) and put the name of another league on our shirt, and there is no question in people's mind that we should be a five-bid league this year.